Khanyi Mlaba
Although they built this house as a project, Alex and Angela Saffy fell in love with it and decided it was perfect for their family.
“Industrial elegance was the look I was going for,” explains Jo’burg designer and project manager Angela Saffy of Versatile Interiors, indicating the large black-framed, double-height window in her entrance hall.
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The house, which is part of a complex in a secluded close in Bryanston, Jo’burg, was subject to certain design regulations, but fortunately as this window faces into the courtyard, the black frame was allowed.
“I wanted all the rooms to open onto the pool and outdoor areas so that there is an indoor-outdoor feel to the whole house,” says Angela who worked closely with the architect, Gavin Warburton, and builder, Justin Lobban of Millennium Construction, on the design.
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The double-storey house is U-shaped and all the rooms, including the children’s TV room, the kitchen, dining, living room and bar have stacking framed glass doors that open completely but can be closed should it be rainy or windy. “When they’re closed, some of them resemble sash windows, in keeping with the modern Georgian style,” explains Angela. The braai room at the far end of the house has aluminium security shutters on opposite sides of the room so it can be almost completely opened up. “It’s a lovely cool spot in summer and, with one set closed and the fire burning, a cosy comfortable space in winter.”
Read more: Stylish braai areas
Angela carried the industrial luxe look throughout the house with sections of exposed brick, lots of raw wood, including beautiful engineered wood flooring, and added a contemporary edge with black accents. Contributing to the richness and glamour are textured baskets juxtaposed with velvet and fur throws, all reflected in striking mirrors.
Read more: Decorating with mirror
“As you can see, I adore mirrors,” says Angela who admits that once they’d moved in and hung the mirrors, she realised that she had two left over. “But they worked beautifully on either side of the door onto the pool, giving the right finish to two planter boxes.”
